Frozen vegetables are being recalled across nine U.S. states due to the presence of an allergen that was not declared on the products' packaging.
Lidl US has issued a voluntary recall of its Taste of Deutschland Buttered Vegetables—bags of frozen carrots, cauliflower, corn and peas—after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered the products did not declare milk as an allergen.
"People who have allergies to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products," the FDA said in a statement.
Newsweek has approached Lidl for comment via email.
The recall affects all lots of the frozen veg, which were sold in green 10.5oz boxes with the code "4 056489 122876."
The vegetables were distributed between October 21, 2023, and December 19, 2024, to all Lidl stores in Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
The recall was initiated after an FDA inspection that found an error in the ingredient statement.
Customers who have purchased this product are being urged to immediately return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund—with or without a receipt.
Those with questions about this recall can call the Lidl Customer Care Hotline at (844)-747-5435 from 8:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
"The health and safety of our customers is our top priority," said a statement from Lidl. "Lidl US regrets any inconvenience related to this voluntary recall.
"Our Quality Assurance Department is constantly working to ensure that all products on our shelves meet the high-quality standards that we would expect when feeding our own families.
"We are grateful for all our Lidl US customers who choose to shop with us every day."
Lidl has not received any reports of illnesses related to these frozen vegetables as of their announcement on Friday, December 20.
Cow's milk allergies are common in young children but can occur in adults too, displaying symptoms that may within minutes of consuming milk or days afterwards.
Symptoms can be mild, including an itchy mouth, tongue and throat; swollen lips or face; an itchy red rash; a runny nose; sneezing; or digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
In severe cases, milk can result in an anaphylactic reaction, which might look like swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis can be fatal and urgent medical attention is required.
If someone is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, administer adrenaline—such as with an EpiPen—and call 911 for an ambulance.
Many other people are intolerant to milk and milk products, which is where the body struggles to digest lactose—a sugar in milk—usually because they do not have enough of an enzyme called lactase.
Among people with milk intolerance, consuming dairy products such as buttered vegetables could result in uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea.
Other ongoing food recalls include carrots that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, pizza that may contain plastic and pasta that may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.
Do you have a tip on a food story that Newsweek should be covering? Is there a nutrition concern that's worrying you? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.
English (US) ·